Page 22 of Love You Already
Guess I'm about to find out.
The drive is long and dusty as I navigate to what Rose told me was the 'big house' on the left. Seconds turn to hours as I keep my pace normal so I don't draw too much attention my way. They should know I'm coming. Or at least, I hope they do.
When I reach the main house, I spot four men talking on the front porch. They appear to be laughing as they hold cups of coffee in hand. All but one anyway. The largest of the group stands off to the side with a permanent scowl on his face. I wonder if he's a brother or a ranch hand. He might be hard to win over. I'm hoping it's the latter.
They turn my way as I pull up beside a beat-up Ford. It's got good bones, but the worn-down paint, rusty chrome, and torn off tailgate let me know she's been through it.
I park the car as I meet the stares of all four men. No need to make it more awkward, Lachlan. Get out.
Climbing out, I'm met with smells and sounds I've never experienced. Watching Yellowstone on TV can't prepare me for real life. It especially can't prepare me for the group of men staring a hole in me.
“Are you lost, son?” The oldest of the group calls out as he walks over. Based on the way he looks a bit like Bridgett, I would guess he's the patriarch of the family.
I shake my head as I approach the bottom step. “Not lost, sir. Rose told me to come out this way.”
“Rose told you —”
“Holy shit, you're Lachlan Matthews! What the hell are you doing here, and how do you know my sister?” One of the other men calls out as he lumbers down the steps.
The sound of an engine hits my ears as a familiar face pops up from around the side of the house riding a four-wheeler. Rose pulls up beside my G-Wagon, putting her right behind me. She hops off, then rushes over to me.
“You're early,” she says with an amazed sort of tone.
My teasing reply comes quick. “You told me if I was late, I'd miss out on breakfast.”
“Is someone going to fill the rest of us in?” says Rose's father.
My Ace blushes as she realizes just how close she's standing to me. Her gaze goes from her dad to her brothers, then to me. I nod my head, letting her know without words that I've got her back.
“It's a funny story really. Truly unique. Lachlan is... Well, he's my...”
“Husband. I'm her husband.”
I must have a death wish with the way I blurt out the truth. Rose gives me wide eyes as the men on the porch go from confused to angry really quick.
Her dad points towards Rose with a scowl. “You got some explaining to do, baby girl. Get your man and get inside.”
Well, that went well.
CHAPTER 11
MAKES SENSE THAT HE'D BE YOUR TYPE.
Rose
The house is thick with tension. It suffocates me, stealing my voice and the well planned out speech I'd worked on all night. In my head, we'd share that I met him long ago and that we were dating. I'd wait a bit to drop the husband bit on them. See how they took the boyfriend thing before we went any deeper.
Then Lachlan opened his mouth, spilling the beans before I could get a hold of the situation.
“Alright. I think the quiet game has gone on long enough, Rosie. Tell us what this fella means by saying he's your husband. I would like to think I'd know about my own daughter's wedding.” Daddy frowned as he tapped his worn, leathery hands on the tabletop. He'd spent his life on this ranch since he showed up to woo mama some four decades ago. His time here was marked in those hands. Every cut and callus were proof of all he'd put in to provide for us.
And yet here I was wishing I'd been given the chance to lie to him. Shame on me.
“Well, Daddy, he's not wrong. We are married. Though that wasn't the intention at the time.”
Lachlan jumped in to help me along. “I only found out yesterday after I was already headed to Firefly Cove for the summer. My agent called because he'd gotten the certificate in the mail. I threw my bag in the house I'm renting, then came straight to find Rose.”
Daddy nods at him, his eyes trained like laser beams searching for their target. He doesn't give us any indication of what he's thinking as the room goes still again.